USING ANOCRITICISM AS AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE HUMANITIES

Abstract To date, Gender Studies and Age Studies (predominantly humanities-based approaches to studying old age) have mostly remained two separate areas of research despite the ontological and epistemological similarities of both fields. As Maierhofer points out, “[a]ge/[a]geing studies would not have been established as a field without the theoretical and methodological approaches established through feminist theory.” Age studies research has largely focused on cultural representations (e.g., novels, films) and social manifestations of either age or gender but not both. Considering this limitation in research, this interdisciplinary panel discusses cultural and social intersections of age and gender from a theoretical as well as an empirical perspective. Taking Maierhofer’s analytical approach of ‘anocriticism’ as a starting point, the contributions of this panel explore intersections of age and gender in society, culture, and cultural representations. The first paper traces the historical development of anocriticism, from its feminist origins to its current application in Age Studies scholarship. The second paper presents research from two studies which used anocriticsm as an analytical framework. The third reports findings from an analysis of two novels. Here, an anocritical lens was used to deconstruct heteronormative assumptions about gender and age. The final paper presents an anocritical, qualitative analysis of narratives from five older men with regarding their performance of masculinities and power. As the papers demonstrated, anocriticism as theoretical framework, allows for a multi-dimensional yet nuanced analysis of cultural and social intersections of age and gender.

adults who have low social engagement, due to health, mobility, or economic circumstances. In 2013, Davis teamed up with Helen Kivnick to develop the Vital Involvement Model, which employs creative activities to increase meaningful engagement with the world. Over 6 years, AWVIA was employed by 84 HUD Senior Housing communities across the U.S. Kivnick and Davis received funding from NEA for a quasi-experimental study on the participants. Information from more than 2,000 qualitative narratives suggests the program decreased isolation, increased self-reliance, generativity, and a sense of mastery in participants. Examples of the narratives will be shared. Kyong Hee Chee, Seoyoun Kim, and Olga Gerhart, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, United States The benefit of vital involvement (VI) in dementia care is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate VI elements in a creative group storytelling program for persons living with dementia (TimeSlips). After offering 6 weekly storytelling sessions for 4 small groups in a memory care community, we interviewed participants (n = 21), family members (n = 2), and care associates (n = 6) to obtain feedback on the program. Themes from narratives in the audiorecorded and transcribed interviews suggest that participants enjoyed the program, enacting their personal values, strengths, and interests, and incorporating their past and current experiences, as supported by their sociospatial environment (e.g., facilitator, co-participants, researchers, shared table). When paired with the VI practice, creative group storytelling has potential to magnify favorable outcomes for participants with dementia, who may express more fully their meaningful engagement with their inner (psychological) and external (social and physical) world.

SESSION 4670 (SYMPOSIUM)
USING ANOCRITICISM AS AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE HUMANITIES Chair: Kate de Medeiros Co-Chair: Roberta Maierhofer To date, Gender Studies and Age Studies (predominantly humanities-based approaches to studying old age) have mostly remained two separate areas of research despite the ontological and epistemological similarities of both fields. As Maierhofer points out, "[a]ge/[a]geing studies would not have been established as a field without the theoretical and methodological approaches established through feminist theory." Age studies research has largely focused on cultural representations (e.g., novels, films) and social manifestations of either age or gender but not both. Considering this limitation in research, this interdisciplinary panel discusses cultural and social intersections of age and gender from a theoretical as well as an empirical perspective. Taking Maierhofer's analytical approach of 'anocriticism' as a starting point, the contributions of this panel explore intersections of age and gender in society, culture, and cultural representations. The first paper traces the historical development of anocriticism, from its feminist origins to its current application in Age Studies scholarship. The second paper presents research from two studies which used anocriticsm as an analytical framework. The third reports findings from an analysis of two novels. Here, an anocritical lens was used to deconstruct heteronormative assumptions about gender and age. The final paper presents an anocritical, qualitative analysis of narratives from five older men with regarding their performance of masculinities and power. As the papers demonstrated, anocriticism as theoretical framework, allows for a multi-dimensional yet nuanced analysis of cultural and social intersections of age and gender.

ANOCRITICISM: THEORIZING AND DISCOVERING INTERSECTIONS OF AGE AND GENDER Roberta Maierhofer, University of Graz / Center for Inter-American Studies , Graz, Steiermark, Austria
This paper presents historical research on the theoretical foundations and application of 'anocriticism' as a method to trace portrayals of female aging in American literary texts to understand what it means to be "aged by culture" (Gullette 2004). Originally developed in the 1990s in context of American Studies as an analytical framework for the analysis of cultural representations of intersections of age and gender in literature, anocriticism brings together the feminist tradition of Elaine Showalter's (1985) "gynocriticism" -a study of women writers and of the history, styles, themes, genres and structures of writing by women -through analysis of narratives and Germaine Greer's (1992) use of "anophobia" (from Latin "anus" for "old woman") to describe the fear of old women. The paper presents examples of anocriticism in practice in age studies and gerontology and highlights its potential for future multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary application.

ANOCRITICAL READINGS OF THE INTERSECTIONS OF AGE AND GENDER IN AMERICAN LITERATURE: A FEMINIST CRITIQUE Nicole Haring, University of Graz, Graz, Steiermark, Austria
Intergenerational relationships have been present features in texts from the American literary canon that often problematizes the intersections of age and gender. This paper investigates how representations of intergenerationality provide the opportunity to explore the concepts of relationality and intersectionality through a feminist lens. Maierhofer's concept of anocriticism was used in in the analysis of Julia Alvarez' In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) and Yaa Gyasi's novel Homegoing (2016) to validate individual experiences of gendered ageing. This paper presents ways in which this particular intersection can be viewed as a potential site of resistance towards what it means to grow old as a woman. Placing literature in a cultural, social, and political context, traditional paradigms can be reconstructed and heteronormative assumptions of age and gender can be deconstructed by focusing on the individual narratives and their potential for resistance.

ANOCRITICISM AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MASCULINITY IN OLDER MEN Kate de Medeiros, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States
While anocriticism is a feminist framework often applied in the context of literary gerontology, this paper uses an anocriticism approach to consider how hegemonic masculinities and old age reveal a separation between cultural stereotypes of age and chronological age. Narratives from 5 men aged 65 and over, who participated in a qualitative study on everyday attributions of depression, were analyzed using an anocriticism framework. Results revealed that participants both claimed and contested their chronological age as an identity marker. Of particular note were claims related to the stereotype of loss of vigor in later life, with each man making a clear point to affirm his virility and sexual prowess independent of other interview questions. Overall, findings point to an important way to read interview data through an anocritical lens, paying particular attention to ways that power are questions and performed in relation to age.

USING PHOTOVOICE TO EXPLORE THE STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT AND ADVANCE POLICY IN MULTIPLE CONTEXTS Chair: Melissa Hladek Discussant: Hae-Ra Han
Contextual factors, including social determinants of health, have gained recognition for greatly influencing aging trajectories and chronic disease progression. Although traditional qualitative research gives a rich understanding of the internal psychological experience, it is unable to assess socio-cultural and built environment aspects of life apart from the verbal descriptions from participants. This symposium examines the use of Photovoice as a tool to assess the socio-cultural and structural context surrounding the participant. This symposium will present a narrative review on the use of current Photovoice methodologies in dementia care; results from three studies using photovoice, one with participants with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers to explore their perceptions of aging in their home, the second exploring the lived experience and structural barriers among older adults with pre-frailty or frailty awaiting kidney transplant, and the third exploring the older adult peer mentors' experience providing community-delivered hearing care. The talks will also address practical aspects of using photovoice such as institutional review board tips, logistical challenges, interview preparation and coding approaches. The fifth talk will describe Photovoice result dissemination strategies, including photo exhibits and stakeholder meetings, used to engage the community and advance policy to improve disparities. Photovoice as a research tool originally aimed to reinforce empowerment for those marginalized in society to describe their lived environment. This important aim is augmented in this symposium by improving researchers' understanding of context to design more impactful research.